The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-14
An ABsTRUsE PROBLEM.
Hsw Fine Differences Are Drawn
Between flames OF Chance.
Have the Authorities Been Wfnhing
~ seme and LETTING an Iron
Hand Fall On Others.

The numerous dens and resorts
where the festive crap shooters do
congregate, were, until the recent
raids by deputy sherifis tmatter Of
which the general pubic was igno.
rant. A popular impression was that
the term scraps" was q newspaper
iunnyism. From the energy displayed
by the deputies aud volunteers Ia
bouncing upon the unsuepectiDg
shooters and spectators, ard the rich
>hauls made In the way Of finances, the
actual existence Of such species Of
gambling has becoms recognized.
The manner In which the officials
sailed forth, selecting the midnight
hour for their work, has had the Of.
feet Of impretsirg some otherwise
well.iniormed people that the mystic.
rious game wss relic Of the barbarous
sges. They imagine that knives,
pistols and rssors are indispensable
component parts. II Ia gambling, no
dispute OF that, and Is such prohib.
tied by law. But the parties indulg.
ing therein, though at some obscure
point and under cover OF darkness,
are no more subject TO official raids
than the most pslasial gambling house
In the heart Of the city.
Some peculiar and startling facts
concerning the administration Of the
rambling laws have come 10 light
since the murder Of Joe Waller. In.
curry Into the methods employed BY
the authorities does not brighten their
records % that they Rlisten 40 . piece
81 glass under the MONDAY suns rays.
Perhaps there are excuses for the pol.
Icy, but Il seems all do not fare alike.
The poor and uninhuentisl suffsr
from the importance and financial
power Of their more fortunate fellows.
The system Is what the knowing
ones term shake down." but
what the average citizen terms black.
mail. II consists OF waiting upon the
proprietor enthusiastically, and leav-
Ing the premises satished. The victim,
In q belief that II adordp, and desire,
for protection, yields up q portion
Of the profits OF his illegitlmate
business. Immunity follows for a
brief period, but ere long demands
come hom other sources, and thus q
great sllcs IL gobbeld mp. II Is 70.
ported that one unpretentious estab.
lishmsnt has "talitfed" the law In
this way 10 the tune OF fll0 In one
month. Then ho was raided. II Ia
further claimed that the very night
the haul was made the raiders went
TO gambling hall and dropped come.
thing like 800.
This 10 the cold truth, and the
gentlemen need no, trouble them
selves 10 make denials. Bot there are
some people In the world dull enough
not 10 understand how Il Is that such
q wide distinction exists between
games and establishments, Ia the eyes
Of the law. They cannot see why
craps" 10 ouilawrv, and poker, faro,
and such like refined and eenteel.
The playerb In one are surprited, capt.
ured, marched OF 10 jail like cattle,
and give mp every cent 10 the authori
ties, while the latter class prosper and
wax fat under the very noses CT the
oficisls, and even draw part OF the
profits from those who war against the
others. Possibly gambling 10 q neces
sary evil In great cities. and can not
be crushed out; but there l, such q
thing a. consistency In regulating II.
And would II not be we'll TO zee that
views from the outside are cut OF, go
that, should q deeply pious man or a
refined lady pass by, their senso Of pro-
pfiety will no. be enc cked7